Saturday, November 1, 2008

This is a tale of a place far awayparadise on earth, its an island at bay

The 'Smurfs' as the inhabitants were fondly called by the people,Had nothing to do with their skin-colour being purple

The smurfs were happy, they knew no desireNo competition, no fancy fashion, no claim on property, no quest for attire

It was all fun and joy, and everyone was contentuntil one fine day, arrived a jew... , with a malicious intent

He sold them an idea, a business, a planHe sold them a dream, He said 'together we can'

And so it was, and indeed, together they didThe smurfs worked hard, they were diligent and intrepid

Scrooge, the Jew was visibly overjoyedIt was his farmland for which the smurfs were employedHe grew crops and fruits and vegetables that were niceof breeds exotic, befitting the smurfs' paradise

The smurfs were happy, for they got fat payments10 coins each, for a day's work, for enjoyment

Within under a month, Scrooge was overjoyed and excitedfor his tiny little market, brimming with buyers, was crowdedHe also ran a restaurant, where he offered delicacies exoticThe smurfs watched in amazement --as the fruits and vegetables of their island, transformed- -into delicious retreats of wonder and magic

Scrooge was happy, satisfied, overjoyed and contentHe brought new joy and pleasures to the ignorant smurfs; he had a happy intent.

Even the smurfs, their payments increasedWith new delicacies to relish, their excitement had peaked

And so the smurfs were happy again, they knew no more desireNo competition, no fancy fashion, no claim on property, no quest for attire

Until one fine day, a new dish adorned the menu. It was called the 'paradise bright'Those who had relished it, cried out in ecstacy; nowhere on earth will you get such a delightBut alas, the heavenly desire cost 50 coins per dish'How are we to arrange, for so costly a dish?'

Dont worry, said scrooge, you can take it now, if you want, for tenyour earnings will increase, and with your savings, you can payback thenBut every day you delay, you incur upon yourselfA payment of interest amounting to a coin a day in itself

The smurfs thought for a moment, decided it through, and said why not"we earn 15 coins a day; and for today's delight, we can spare a coin or two a day, can we not?"

So it was decided, and the smurfs were happy againFrom every perspective, it was everyone's gainThey were overjoyed and content, it was anyone's callLiving beyond one's means is so much fun after all

But then one fine day, Scrooge decidedIt was time to expand, new land to be addedMore smurfs to be hired, expansion is fine"But How am I to pay, the new smurfs who join?"

"Dont worry, I know what ill do" thought Scrooge, he was proud.He summoned the new joinees, and told them aloud"I'll pay you half your wage, every day for this monthand give you your rightful due, in installments from next month."

So it was decided, and Scrooge was happy againFrom every perspective, it was everyone's gainHe was overjoyed and content, it was anyone's callLiving beyond one's means is so much fun after all

Until one fine day, the weather gods relentedIt thundered, it stormed, it poured unboundedThe crops were destroyed, the produce wastedThe land was flooded, and the smurfs were disappointed

With nothing to grow, the profits finishedThe employed smurfs, had their incomes diminishedA frustrated Scrooge demanded his due: "You all owe me for the 'paradise bright'Which you so excitedly relished, with much delight""How can we pay, with our incomes dwindled?", said the smurfs with exhaustionThe end of the month was soon approaching, it was a perilous situationFor now it was time, for the installments to begin"What do I do now?" thought scrooge, from within

The smurfs owed Scrooge, and he owed them"The bubble's burst; this crisis, I have to stem"

The smurfs, concerned, demanded a fresh startBut despite the crisis, Scrooge was smartHe went to the landlord, of his own accordand Demanded some credit. "Liquidity Crunch, My Lord"

And so they discussed, and they all agreedThat liquidity and credit was the solution indeed"Why not?" said the landlord, "I have some credit"If you promise to repay from a part of your profit

So it was decided, and everyone was happy againFrom every perspective, it was everyone's gainThey were overjoyed and content, it was anyone's callLiving beyond one's means is so much fun after all

Until, that is, the bubble bursts again; and you fall...

Yes, I know what you're thinking, and before we jump to that, lets see what different people say about the situation:

The nazis would blame the jew. The jew robbed the honest and hard working smurfs, a rich and happy and content island; and corrupted them with greed. The jew should be executed and all those who dissent should be too.

The Socialists and communists would blame capitalism and the free market system. "Its evil" they'll say. They'll criticize the landlord for supporting the Jew. And would ask for a complete nationalization of the land and resources and let everything be owned by the state. They forget, though, that by doing so, they are putting themselves in Scrooge's shoes; except, they have absolute power and control over law.

The free market thinkers of the likes of Edmund spencer would put this off as a case of inflated economy, and would call for corrective measures and increase in credit and liquidity...

Me? I just feel that the people are dumb. The free market way is the best way there is. Its the people who misuse it. If a street rogue comes to you and sells you a watch which you later find out is fake, who are you going to blame? Its you who is to blame.If someone commits a murder with a swiss army knife, you arent going to sue the manufacturers, the culprit is the guy who misused it.Its the people who misuse the system and since no-one likes themselves blamed, the blame shifts on to the system.

As long as our mindset will be focused on the belief that we can relish, now, the fruits of seeds we are yet to sow; then there is something fundamentally wrong with our thinking...